My apologize friend, I won't both you any more, again apologize.
Ula! Ulo's laugh dies and he looks down hanging his head slightly uncomfortable at his social fo pa.
"As I said my friend, who can make money quickly? it might be best if we avoid the law, increasing our profile while we are sought by the magisterium seems foolish, perhaps we can hire out to some passengers? take travelers on for coin, and perhaps learn something in the process?"
"Ade and I will head to the Dock's see if we can't find a few travelers willing to pay good coin. we can really only take another two though. Perhaps you too can look into anyone looking for fast transportation for a small amount of goods."
Assuming no one has any major issues with that Asmund and Ade head out immediately. Keeping as low a profile as he can Asmund investigates around the shipyard by the Sea Hawk's Companion, hoping to find a traveler or two willing to pay passage.
"Ula! let's find some goods to transport!"
Sayyid Smiles claps the older man on the back and puts on his drab cloths, ruffles the feathers of Taliba's neck and struts out the front door.
Ade watches Asmund try to approach people about rides.
No no. Asmund, you're one of the selling points, not the salesperson. Stand near me and look sailorly but also not like yourself.
Ade then starts politely asking passers-by if they need safe, efficient passage with professionals, deliberately a bit vague about the exact destination until she can attract interest.
Asmund and Ade make their way to public docks. Sitting a few hundred meters up the river mouth, these are the docks where independent captains and merchants ply there trade. You mingle among the myriad traders, contractors, captains, and travelers looking to hire out passage for themselves or some cargo.
You come across:
A group of pilgrims seeking to traller to the shrine of a thousand waters in the Rhasan Khanate, however they are a group of 12 and you have some doubts how well they would fit on your ship.
A merchant is looking for last-minute replacement for a ship to retrieve four prize ochsen from Pembra in Lejtland.
A contract-agent is looking for a ship to take a shipment of silks to Brestlor, but he needs a quick ship that can leave soon.
Asmund takes Ade to the side. "The pilgrims are too many to fit comfortably on the companion, and I'm hesitant to bring livestock on board a ship that small. Looks like Brestlor is our best bet. Let's get the others and then we can finalize things."
Asmund and Ade return the house with the news. "We've found a contract-agent looking to ship silk to Brestlor, its all above board and it pays. I think that's our best bet. We should leave as soon as possible."
[ooc}asuuming Sayyid and Ula! have returned empty-handed at this point[o"Ahh!!! Excellent! I will gather our things and search out some small provisions for the journey in the market. Let us leave as soon as possible!"
Sayyid leaves the house soon after...
"I'll meet you on the ship there are a few things id like to get before we go.."
Sayyid walks into the market in search of three things.
First Sayyid is looking to buy some bolts for the balista which are designed to set ships a flame.
Second some incense,
Third, a cat.
40 To know wheather this culture normaly allows barganing
52 To pass as a local trader
With his knowledge of the trade customs, Sayyid begins looking for a contract broker seeking a ship to carry goods to Brestolor.
Sayyid approaches the contract broker,
"I hear you have a shipment which needs fast transport to Brestolor?? silks and the like is my understanding, is that so?"
Broker: Yes indeed. Half the world is trying to move cargo to Brestlor the slow way, after the magisters bamboozled us again. I have a shipment of silks that needs to move as soon as possible on quick boat. Shipment comes to about twenty bales. You have a ship that could carry it? Whats her name?
"My name is Hassan Al Mocsha, merchant captain of the Sea Hawk's companion a swift longship capable of transporting your goods with great speed."
28 Persuade the man of what I say.
"My name is Hassan Al Mocsha, merchant captain of the Sea Hawk's companion a swift longship capable of transporting your goods with great speed."
Persuade the man of what I say.
Agent: Indeed, that should suffice for this cargo, if your ship is swift. I'm offering 12 sovereigns of silver for the delivery. Four more if your 2 full days or more ahead of schedule, 4 less if your a full day or more late.
"tell me more about the cargo? how much weight? Should we expect any trouble?"
Agent: It a special order of printed silks from one of the Issan islands. Some merchant in Brestlor figured it would come into style. So since everyone figured there'd be a wind blowing towards Brestlor, it was sitting in the docks at Yeza like a thousand other cargos. Since that fell through its been going the roundabout way. But the cargo losses quite a bit of value if it isn't in time for the summer court season. No reason to expect any trouble if you know what your doing.
"If we sail today when does it need to be in port at Brestlor? 16 sovereigns if were two days early?? seems a small price for such speed..."
37 to negotiate a better price.
"If we can make such good time as to be two days early you pay us an extra 7 sovereigns, to run a crew ragged for only 4 sovereigns.. well I could not do that"
Agent: Fine, an extra 6 if you can leave today. Your ships uses sails, not oars. Your crew will be fine. Meet me at the warehouse in 3 hours. I'll have a cart and a laborer, but best bring some of your crew to load it. Will you be using the ship as lien against the cargo, or you got bank papers?
" Agreed, I will meet you with the crew in 3 hours to load our ship, and we will sail today. The ship will do"
18 To estimate the length of the journey.
40 To know what the deal with putting up lien against cargo is.
Sayyid bids the man farewell...
"At the warehouse in three hours we will be ready"
Sayyid quickly makes his way back to his crewmates to explain the situation
Ula! Ulo has made his way back to the ship by this point.
"Okay merchant captain my captain. You think this is going to go smooth, I'm in."
Sayyid meets the others at the ship and explains the situation,
"My one concern is that we must use the ship as collateral, we should also make sure to cement our expected delivery date. Our ship is fast and barring any interference, we should be able to make it. I am sorry Asmund, I promised your ship to seal the deal.."
Asmund speaks slowly and calmly.
"I understand Sayyid, there is no need to apologize. Of course that may change if anything goes wrong."
Asmund's expression briefly grows dark menacing before he grins.
"Lets be on our way then, to the warehouse."
Asmund heads over to Gawil, gripping the man by the forearms he places his other hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for your help old friend, it will not be quickly forgotten. And I hope to lay eyes on you again, sooner than last time I hope."
Ula! Ulo stows his fishing line, on the ship and jumps up eager to be underway.
You make your way to a warehouse district further up the river from the markets, it is outside of the city center. The warehouses here largely rent out their space to smaller merchants and houses that don't have a major presence is Svest. The larger trading houses have their own warehouses along the ocean-facing docks.
You follow the directions your were given, moving through winding alleys between nondescript warehouses. The occasional cart of goods goes by, but its not a very active area at the moment.
Asmund, because you made the check, you get to participate in round 1 initiative.
Turn order:
Asmund
Street toughs
As the group is heading down a particularly shady alley Asmund stops in his tracks and sighs. "Serpents Cock, we can't just have a nice stroll?" He slowly pivots, drawing a broad-bladed throwing dagger. Asmund slowly edges forward as he speaks to the thugs. "Evening fella's, we've actually got business to attend to at the moment so if you wouldn't mind f$~#in' off we can all go our own ways and no one will end up dead."
Asmund sets himself in a defensive stance, knife and hand held in front, crouching low.
Upon hearing his friend's exclamation.
For f%*% sake! can't a man take a stroll!
I'm getting too old for this hyena defecation
The ruffians decline Asmund's generous offer, and break off to attack you. As Asmund if the nearest figure to them, and the largest of your party, the first two come at him, clubs swinging, low and high.
Asmund waits his moment, then lunges out at the man on his left. He grabs the man around his midriff and brings him down. The other man's blow strikes his shoulder, but the sudden movement caught him off guard and the blow does little more than bruise. The two men crash to the ground, but Asmund is on top and clearly has the advantage.
The three remaining ne'er-do-wells each come at one of you, clubs swinging.
The first aims a diagonal blow up towards Ula's head, but misjudges it slightly and catches him in the shoulder. The blow smarts mightily, but seems to have done little more damage than that.
A wiry footpad with a nasty looking scar and a cruel countenance aims a particularly nasty blow at Ade's head, catching her before she can duck. It sends her sprawling back, immobile.
The last highwayman sends a side blow in towards Sayyid, catching him in the shoulder. Pain arcs out through your arm and you stagger back, but you manage to catch yourself before going over.
Asmund
Ula!
npcs
Sayyid
Seeing his companions battered, and his charge sprawled across the ground Asmund growls in his throat and strikes viciously at the man he has pinned.
Ula! Ulo laughs and lunges at his opponent attempting to grapple him around the waist pinning his arm down.
+ = 27
Be glad this isn't my knife scum! Lest the rest of you want to end up tossed in a barrel get your self from this place and tell no tale of it!
+ = 12
While grappling his foe, Asmund manages to a grip on his knife again and stabs the man twice in the back.
Ula! recovers quickly from the blow he took and wraps his foe in a bear-hug.
The foe lying beneath Asmund starts to go limp, blood seeping out from his back.
Asmund's second foe aims a might blow down at the big man, but in the struggle he misses the head and breaks his stick across Asmund's back.
The foe Ula! grappled struggles to free himself, but is unable to do so, until the man who clocked Ade comes to his aid. The new foe takes a solid swing, but in the confusion he gets both Ula! and his ally. But its enough for the man to break free of Ula! and back off a bit.
The last man strikes at Sayyid again, coming from the other side. He lands a similar blow on the other arm.
Sayyid grunts then flicks a flash of steel from his robes towards his attacker.
"Curses, may you be swallowed by the sands and your names be taken by the wind!!!!!
= 29
9
Asmund grabs the thug next to him and attempts to bring him to the ground, then stabs at his chest.
Well I was trying to be nice but hey your choice boys.
Ula! Ulo pulls his long dagger from his waist sheath, grinning he lunges at the closest foe with his knife drawn.
+ + = 28
Our heroes up the ante against their ambushers with a sudden flurry of violence. A dagger flashes from Sayyid's hand, though it only grazes his foe.
Asmund grabs another man and stabs him as well.
Ula! Takes his dagger and plunges it into the nearest ruffian.
The footpads suddenly seem unsure, their initial ambuscade having failed to yield the expected dividends and several of them sporting puncture marks.
The man who clocked Ade says: F+$$ this, Semweld didn't pay me enough for this. Looks like the cocksucker might be dead anyway.
He turns and runs off. The remaining hoodlums also turn and melt away, the last one managing to wiggle out of Asmund's grip and flee.
The first man brought down still lays bleeding in the street, immobile.
sayyid slides another knife from the folds of his clothing and walks toward the ruffian laying on the ground.
"You do not look so well friend, do you yet breathe?"
Sayyid nudges the man gently enough to do no damage but firmly enough to get a reaction...
He's out. You think you see some shallow breathing, so you think he's not dead, but he's also not responsive.
Sayyid looks to the man lying in his own blood, finding the source of the bleeding he does what he can to stop it. cutting several long lengths of cloth from the man's clothing.
Semweld...
Ula! Ulo lets the name hang in the air.
I suppose we know more now then we did before... we should get this one patched up and take him abode our boat so we might ask some questions in private without his friends coming back.
Looking at the thug on the street, attempting to help Sayyid patch the man up as quick as we can.
+ = 17
Asmund glances after the fleeing thugs debating wether or not to give chase. He shakes his head and rushes to Ade's side. He attempts to wake her.
Ade slowly comes to, still a bit groggy but otherwise ok.
You patch up the other guy. Hes alive but still not coming to. He seems to have lost a fair amount of blood.
Let us get to our meeting, and then we will take this guy back to our boat... we can just say hes a bit too drunk or something
"I wouldn't recommend carrying a bloody body through the streets in broad daylight. We can either tie him up and come back later, or we can leave someone here to watch him. What do you think?"